Sensitivity disk dispenser

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for dispensing sensitivity disks from cartridge rolls to a receptacle provided with wells for receiving the disks. The device comprises a housing having surfaces defining a base for receiving the receptacle. A first plate is fixed within the housing with openings offset from the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in a first position and aligned with the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in a second position. The first plate further includes wiper means affixed to the plate extending into the openings. The device further includes a second plate disposed for movement within the housing interposed between the first plate and the base. The second plate has openings in alignment with the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in the first position. Means affixed to the second plate engage with a portion of the receptacle so that when the receptacle is shifted to the second position the second plate moves with the receptacle. The device further includes a third plate affixed to the second plate for movement therewith. The third plate includes tubular openings therein in alignment with the first plate openings for supporting a cartridge roll.

United States Patent Adams l l SENSITIVITY DISK DISPENSER Primary Examiner-Robert I... Spruill Attorney, Agent. or FirmKane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz Nov. 25, 1975 ABSTRACT A device is provided for dispensing sensitivity disks from cartridge rolls to a receptacle provided with wells for receiving the disks. The device comprises a housing having surfaces defining a base for receiving the receptacle. A first plate is fixed within the housing with openings offset from the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in a first position and aligned with the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in a second position. The first plate further includes wiper means affixed to the plate extending into the openings. The device further includes a second plate disposed for movement within the housing interposed between the first plate and the base. The second plate has openings in alignment with the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in the first position. Means affixed to the second plate engage with a portion of the receptacle so that when the receptacle is shifted to the second position the second plate moves with the receptacle. The

device further includes a third plate affixed to the second plate for movement therewith. The third plate includes tubular openings therein in alignment with the first plate openings for supporting a cartridge roll.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ease-o a i ulzula U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet20f6 3,921,369

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of6 3,921,369

q 64 as 2 qt G2. S0 "964 s 56 u I /I/I/I/ 2o US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 5 of6 3,921,369

Sheet 6 of 6 SENSITIVITY DISK DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dispensing device and more particularly to a device for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of sensitivity disks used for laboratory tests.

A common laboratory procedure employed, for example, to identify the source of an infection and an antibiotic capable of fighting the infection utilizes the infectious material to inoculate a growth media or culture broth whereafter precise quantities of the inoculum are reacted in accordance with a predetermined schema with various biochemicals. Such biochemicals are commercially available in the form of impregnated paper disks packaged in stacked cartridge rolls. One such disk is marketed under the trade name "Minitek" by the BBL Division of Becton, Dickinson and Company, assignee of the present application.

In use, various disks impregnated with different biochemicals are laid down in a predetermined pattern and reacted with the inoculum whereafter the disks are examined for classical reactions such as a change or lack of change in color which serves to provide the desired information regarding the inoculum. It is important that the laid down pattern of disks impregnated with various different biochemicals be precise so that no misinformation as to which biochemical reacted or did not react with a particular inoculum will be generated.

Heretofore, various devices have been available for the purpose of dispensing such sensitivity disks in accordance with a desired pattern. Such prior art devices are, for example, disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,394,846 and 2,947,444.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved disk dispenser capable of laying down a plurality of disks in a precise pattern. A further object is to provide such a device which may readily repeat a particular pattern over and over again several times. A still further object is to provide such a device wherein the pattern may easily be altered as required to vary the location or type of sensitivity disk used at any particular location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention the above and other beneficial objects and advantages are attained by providing an improved device for dispensing sensitivity disks from a cartridge roll to a receptacle provided with an area for receiving the disks. The device comprises a housing having surfaces defining a base for receiving the receptacle. A first plate is fixed within the housing with openings offset from the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in a first position and aligned with the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in a second position. The first plate further includes wiper means affixed to the plate extending into the openings. The device further includes a second plate disposed for movement within the housing interposed between the first plate and the base. The second plate has openings in alignment with the receptacle wells when the receptacle is in the first position. Means affixed to the second plate engage with a portion of the receptacle so that when the recptacle is shifted to the second position the second plate moves with the receptacle. The device further includes a third plate affixed 2 to the second plate for movement therewith. The third plate includes tubular openings therein in alignment with the first plate openings for supporting a cartridge roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are side elevational sectional views taken along reference line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows depicting the present device in various stages during its operation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the present device; and,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an associated receptacle utilized with the present disk dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to the drawings wherein similar components bear the same reference numeral throughout the several views. In FIG. I, the disk dispenser, generally designated by the numeral I0, is shown comprising a housing 12 and cover 14. During use. the cover 14 is removed and cartridges 16 containing the sensitivity disks are inserted through the top of the unit as will be described in more detail forthwith. The cartridges may be of the type disclosed and described in US. Pat. No. 3,l l9,52l issued to H. E. Taylor on Jan. 28, I964. Suffice it to say, for the present application, that the cartridge comprises a cylindrical member containing a stack of disks. An opening is provided at the lower end of the cartridge by which a disk may be slid out from under the stack by a transverse force. To this end, the disks are supported by a strap 17 extending across the open lower end. A spring biases the stack toward the lower end.

The housing 12 includes surfaces defining a base I8 for supporting a receptacle to receive the disks dispensed from the cartridges 16. Such a receptacle may conveniently take the shape of that shown in FIG. 6. The receptacle 20 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a generally flat member 22 having a plurality of recessed wells 24 each defining an area for receiving a disk 26 and supply of inoculum. The receptacle is further provided with finger flanges 28 along the sides adjacent the front edge to facilitate handling. An area 30 for receiving a label or the like is provided between the finger flanges along with a reservoir 32 for additional inoculum. The disk wells are located on a raised portion 34 of the receptacle and a cover 36 is provided adapted to fit over and enclose the entire raised portion. Preferably, the receptacle is formed of an inert, clear plastic material.

Base 18 is dimensioned to conveniently receive the receptacle. A first plate 38 formed of stainless steel or other material is fixed in position in the housing spaced above base I8. To this end, a pair of spaced sidewalls 40 extend upwardly from the base and a pair of recesses 42 are provided in the top edges of the sidewalls. Plate 38 fits in the recesses spanning the distance between sidewalls 40 and prevented from movement by the material defining the recesses. Plate 38 includes a plurality of openings 46 and an equal plurality of wipers 48 extending into each opening from the plate. The orientation of openings 46 and wiper 48 will be explained in more detail forthwith.

A second plate 50 is disposed within the housing for movement. Plate 50 extends between sidewalls 40 positioned below plate 38. A set of guides 52 extending inwardly from the sidewalls ride in slots 54 of plate 50 thereby limiting the back and forth movement of the plate. The guides 52 also prevent plate 50 from moving upwardly. A flange 56 extends downwardly from the bottom of plate 50 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The flange is positioned to engage the rear edge 58 of receptacle when a receptacle is positioned on the base. A plurality of openings 60 extends through plate 50. The openings are arranged in a pattern corresponding to that of the openings 46 of plate 38, however. in the relaxed position, the openings 60 of plate 50 are offset from the openings 46 of plate 38 and instead the openings align with the wipers 48 of plate 38. A slot 61 is associated with each opening 60. The slot is dimensioned to receive the strap 17 of a cartridge 16.

A third plate 62 overlies the first and second plates. Third plate 62 is secured to second plate 50 via a plurality of screws 64 extending through screw openings 66 in plate 62 to engage threaded openings 68 in plate 50. The width of plate 50 is such that the sides 70 of the plate overhang the sidewalls 40 extending upwardly from base 18. Thus, the overhang prevents plates 62 and 50 from moving downwardly. Guides 52 and flanges 54 prevent the upward movement of the plates and limit the back and forth movement and the sidewalls prevent the sideward movement of the plates. Thus. the plates are restricted to move back and forth only.

A plurality of tubular openings 70 extends through third plate 62. Openings 70 are arranged in the same pattern as openings 46 and 60. In the relaxed position. each opening 70 is aligned with an opening 46 of first plate 38 and a slot 61 of plate 50 and hence offset from the openings 60 of the second plate. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, each opening is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 72 designed to receive the opposed flanges 74 of cartridge 16. To this end. the tubular openings 70 of plate 62 are sufficiently deep to receive the entire cartridge flange and locking means are provided to lock the cartridge in position while the bottom strap 17 is captured by slot 61 of plate 50.

The locking means comprises a slideable plate 76 positioned between the top of plate 62 and a cover plate 78. The locking plate includes a plurality of circular cutouts 80 extending between opposed fingers 82. When the cutouts 80 are aligned with the tubular openings 70 so that the fingers 82 are withdrawn. cartridges may readily be inserted or removed from the tubular openings 70. However, when the locking plate is shifted inwardly to a position wherein fingers 82 cover slots 72, the cartridge is locked in place. Locking plate 76 is captured between the top of the third plate and the cover plate 78 which. in turn. is secured to the third plate by screws 84 passing through openings 86 to engage threaded openings 88. The cover plate has a plurality of openings 90 aligned with the tubular openings 70 in the third plate.

In operation, cartridges are selected containing disks saturated with the required biochemicals and positioned in the dispenser with their straps in slots 61 and their flanges locked in place. The receptacle 20 is placed on base 18 as shown in FIG. 3 abutting against flange 56. In this first position, each cartridge is offset from its associated plate well which, in turn. is aligned with the openings 60 of the second plate and hence offset from the openings 46 of the fixed plate 38. The technician performing the operation then pushes the receptacle rearwardly and since the receptacle abuts flange 56 of plate 50. plate 50 is also moved rearwardly as is plate 62 and the cartridges 16 extending there through as shown in FIG. 4. Plate 38, however, is prevented from moving so that the relative motion of disk 92 against wiper 48 removes disk 92 from the cartridge and deposits it in opening 46. The dimensions of slots 54 are such that when plate 50 shifts from its initial or first position to a second position comprising the ex treme of rearward movement, opening 46 in plate 38 is aligned with opening 60 in plate 50 so that the disk 92 drops through opening 60 onto a precise area of receptacle 20 which comprises a well 24 into which the inoculum under investigation will be placed. The disk is pushed downwards through hole 60 of bottom 50 by projection 99, which is in alignment with wiper 48. The disk is thereby deposited in opening 24 of plate 20. Downwardly facing projections of plate 38 provide camming surfaces to direct the disks down to insure that the disk 92 is forced out of the opening 60 of plate 50 by pushing any disk 92 that has not fallen of its own accord on the forward stroke of the plate 28. in this connection, the housing is disposed at an angle of approximately 30 with respect to a support table. This helps keep the device in place while the technician pushes the receptacles rearwardly. It also makes the receptacle openings more visible to the technician.

A spring 94 extending between the rear wall 96 of the housing and flanges 98 affixed to the rear of plate 50 returns plate 50 to its original position when the technician removes the rearward force on the plate. The unit is then in condition to dispense the precise disk pattern again by repeating the procedure. If a different schema is to be followed, the technician merely releases the locking plate. removes or rearranges the various cartridges 16 inserted in the unit. reengages the locking plate and then proceeds. Of course. the technician may place cartridges in all or fewer than all of the cartridge receiving tubes as required by any particular operation.

Thus, in accordance with the above. the aforementioned objects are effectively attained.

I claim:

I. A device for dispensing a sensitivity disk from a cartridge roll to a receptacle provided with a predetermined area for receiving the disk. said device compris ing:

a housing;

surfaces on said housing defining a base for receiving said receptacle;

3 first plate disposed within said housing parallel to and spaced apart from said base, an opening in said plate, said opening being offset from said receptacle area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a first position and aligned with said area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a second position and wiper means affixed to said plate extending into said opening;

a second plate disposed for movement within said housing interposed between said first plate and said base, an opening in said second plate in alignment with said receptacle area when a receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position;

means affixed to said second plate for engagement with a portion of said receptacle when said receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position whereby when said receptacle is shifted to said second position, said second plate moves with said receptacle; and,

a third plate affixed to said second plate for movement therewith. said third plate including a tubular opening therein in alignment with said first plate opening for supporting a cartridge roll.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising limiting means affixed to said housing for engagement with said second plate for limiting the movement of said second plate between a first position corresponding to said receptacle first position and a second position corresponding to said receptacle first position.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising spring means disposed within said housing bearing on said second plate biased to urge said second plate to said first position.

4. The device in accordance with claim I further comprising lock means for locking a cartridge in said third plate tubular opening.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third plates contain a plurality of openings therein aligned to receive and dispense a plurality of disks onto a plurality of predetermined areas of an associated receptacle.

6. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cartridge comprises: an elongated cylindrical member having an open bottom end, a strap extending across said open bottom end, and a pair of flanges spaced above said bottom end extending transversely to said cartridge axis; and said locking means includes a slot disposed in said second plate for receiving said cartridge strap, said slot being aligned with said first plate opening when said receptacle is in said first position.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising camming surface means directed toward said base affixed to said plate extending into said opening opposite said wiper means.

8. The device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said locking means further comprises a cover plate disposed over said third plate and having an opening therein in alignment with said tubular opening and a locking plate disposed for movement between said third plate and said cover plate, said locking plate being shiftable between a first position providing a clear passage between said cover plate opening and tubular opening and a second position wherein portions of the passage between said cover plate opening and tubular opening are blocked off whereby said cartridge flanges may be captured.

9. In combination: a receptacle comprising a flat member having a plurality of recessed wells for receiving a sensitivity disk and a supply ofinoculum and a dispenser. said dispenser including:

a housing;

surfaces on said housing defining a base for receiving said receptacle; first plate disposed within said housing parallel to and spaced apart from said base, an opening in said plate, said opening being offset from said receptacle area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a first position and aligned with said area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a second position and wiper means affixed to said plate extending into said opening; second plate disposed for movement within said housing interposed between said first plate and said base, an opening in said second plate in alignment with said receptacle area when a receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position; means affixed to said second plate for engagement with a portion of said receptacle when said receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position whereby when said receptacle is shifted to said second position, said second plate moves with said receptacle; and, third plate affixed to said second plate for movement therewith. said third plate including a tubular opening therein in alignment with said first plate opening for supporting a cartridge roll. 

1. A device for dispensing a sensitivity disk from a cartridge roll to a receptacle provided with a predetermined area for receiving the disk, said device comprising: a housing; surfaces on said housing defining a base for receiving said receptacle; a first plate disposed within said housing parallel to and spaced apart from said base, an opening in said plate, said opening being offset from said receptacle area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a first position and aligned with said area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a second position and wiper means affixed to said plate extending into said opening; a second plate disposed for movement within said housing interposed between said first plate and said base, an opening in said second plate in alignment with said receptacle area when a receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position; means affixed to said second plate for engagement with a portion of said receptacle when said receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position whereby when said receptacle is shifted to said second position, said second plate moves with said receptacle; and, a third plate affixed to said second plate for movement therewith, said third plate including a tubular opening therein in alignment with said first plate opening for supporting a cartridge roll.
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising limiting means affixed to said housing for engagement with said second plate for limiting the movement of said second plate between a first position corresponding to said receptacle first position and a second position corresponding to said receptAcle first position.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising spring means disposed within said housing bearing on said second plate biased to urge said second plate to said first position.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising lock means for locking a cartridge in said third plate tubular opening.
 5. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and third plates contain a plurality of openings therein aligned to receive and dispense a plurality of disks onto a plurality of predetermined areas of an associated receptacle.
 6. The device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cartridge comprises: an elongated cylindrical member having an open bottom end, a strap extending across said open bottom end, and a pair of flanges spaced above said bottom end extending transversely to said cartridge axis; and said locking means includes a slot disposed in said second plate for receiving said cartridge strap, said slot being aligned with said first plate opening when said receptacle is in said first position.
 7. The device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising camming surface means directed toward said base affixed to said plate extending into said opening opposite said wiper means.
 8. The device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said locking means further comprises a cover plate disposed over said third plate and having an opening therein in alignment with said tubular opening and a locking plate disposed for movement between said third plate and said cover plate, said locking plate being shiftable between a first position providing a clear passage between said cover plate opening and tubular opening and a second position wherein portions of the passage between said cover plate opening and tubular opening are blocked off whereby said cartridge flanges may be captured.
 9. In combination: a receptacle comprising a flat member having a plurality of recessed wells for receiving a sensitivity disk and a supply of inoculum and a dispenser, said dispenser including: a housing; surfaces on said housing defining a base for receiving said receptacle; a first plate disposed within said housing parallel to and spaced apart from said base, an opening in said plate, said opening being offset from said receptacle area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a first position and aligned with said area when said receptacle is positioned on said base in a second position and wiper means affixed to said plate extending into said opening; a second plate disposed for movement within said housing interposed between said first plate and said base, an opening in said second plate in alignment with said receptacle area when a receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position; means affixed to said second plate for engagement with a portion of said receptacle when said receptacle is positioned on said base in said first position whereby when said receptacle is shifted to said second position, said second plate moves with said receptacle; and, a third plate affixed to said second plate for movement therewith, said third plate including a tubular opening therein in alignment with said first plate opening for supporting a cartridge roll. 